The Charlotte Club of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Womens Club, Inc Presents its first induction into their Charlo tte-Meckle nburg Womens Hall of Fame Friday, March 24, 2000 \ 6:30 p.tn. Museum of the New South 324 N. College Street Charlotte, NC 28202 PJ’S GRAPHIC [email protected] Acknowledgments The j Charlotte-Mecklenburg Museum of the New South Womens Lawrence Toliver l Hall of Fame Esther Sturgis Queen City Lincoln Mercury In recognition of Women’s History Month, the National Asso­ ciation of Negro Business and Professional Womens Clubs, Binaco Investment Inc. (NANBPW) thought it only appropriate to recognize those Bishop George Battle Jr. women who have made significant contributions to their com­ munity. Therefore in partnership with the Museum of the New Bank of America Corporation South, where the awards will be displayed, we honor those Esther Elder women. Flowers by Lois The women inducted this evening are the first to be recog­ nized. They will serve as the models, as well as the committee PJ's Graphic Designs that will select future inductees. With all of the outstanding Thereasea Elder civic contributions that women have made in Charlotte-Meck­ lenburg, there is a host of women to acknowledge and we look M. Pete Cunningham forward to celebrating them annually. NC House of Representatives Charlotte-Mecklenburg Fighting Back Progr am \ Sarah M. Stevenson Geraldine “Gerri” T. Powe Sarah Stevenson acted as supervisor of a program of the Charlotte Area Fund designed to provide Geraldine Powes life has been dedicated to educating children. Her professional career began housing, home furnishing and decorating training for the underprivileged. More recently, our with teaching pre-school and early childhood students. She became coordinator of pre-school, recipient was engaged as an Ombudsman by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations kindergarten, and first grade for the Hempstead School District, Hempstead, New York. Follow­ Committee to investigate and undertake to resolve complaints of unfair discrimination in our ing an early retirement from the New York School System, Gerri returned home to Charlotte in community. Thereafter as Associate Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Youth Council, our 1979 and immediately put into service her motto, “Take lime For Others.” honoree was employed by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee to co­ ordinate a dispute settlement program, providing a vehicle by which disputants are provided an She reactivated the Charlotte Youth Club and served as third Vice President (Director of Youth) opportunity to resolve their differences in a peaceful manner through mediation. That program, 1983-85, 1987-90. Although Geraldine was not active with the Senior Club in 1985-86, she worked very hard to increase the financial membership of die Youth Club (to prevent losing the originated ten years ago, prospers to this day. charter) and to help create more interest and activity in the group. Perhaps our recipientss greatest accomplishment has been to introduce the concept of peer me­ diation to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools, affording students an opportunity to talk G err is unit|ue service has been working with young people. As Youth Director, she reached out to through their differences. That program has greatly reduced the incidence of school suspensions the community to bring into the organization young girls from the Anita Stroud Center to be­ and resulted in the establishment by the school system of the position of Peer Medication Coor­ come members of the NANBPW Youth Club. She raised funds to take two girls from the Center to the District Meeting. Gerri believes in developing the total personality of children. She talks dinator in 1991. constantly about (1) academic achievement; (2) building self-image; (3) focusing, setting goals, In addition to these professional engagements, our honoree has held many significant voluntary aspiring for excellence; (4) racial pride; and (5) character and integrity. positions in Charlotte. Some of these positions include: First African-American President of the Integrated PTA Council; Covener of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast Forum (at McDonald’s Gerri has been featured in the Charlotte Post in an article entitled “Defying Biology: About being Cafeteria, the organization which provides political candidates a hearing in the African-American A Mother” to hundreds of children. “Girls With Goals was the heading for an article that the community); a Chairperson of the North Carolina NAACP Legal Defense and Educational 1 und Charlotte Observer did several years ago. Geraldine is a mentor for girls and is committed to (the organization which has provided financial support for legal actions that have resulted m helping young girls become self-sufficient. Motherhood is more than a biological connection in desegregating public facilities); Coordinator of the observance of the Annual Martin Luther King the African-American community. The nurturing instinct has and is continuing to save many Day; President, Black Women’s Caucus; and the first African-American woman to be elected to youngsters. political office in Mecklenburg County (The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board). Honors and Awards include: a 21-year member of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church; Chair­ Finally, in 1993 our honoree received the Elizabeth Koontz Award from the North Carolina person of the Kducation, Family 6c Life Institute; Sheepfold of Bartholomew (responsible for the Human Relations Commission in recognition of a lifetime of dedicated commitment in the areas recently instituted jail outreach ministry in conjunction with Mt. Carmel Baptist Church); origi­ nal member of the Coleman W. Kerry, Jr. Scholarship Committee (helped set guidelines for the of education and civil and human rights. recipients of scholarships); Co-Chairperson of Committee to develop programs for the Friend­ Sarah was the Secretary to the Board for Black Ministry Services for the Lutheran Church Mis­ ship Community Enrichment Center. Gerri received the Sojourner Truth Award (NANBPWC); souri Synod. Presently, she is a reconciler/pcacemaker for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, die Equality Day, Virginia Shadd Community Award; Humanitarian Award; and the Commu­ nity Service Award, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Gerri has served on the Comprehen­ assisting churches, pastors, and others to resolve conflicts in a Christian manner. sive Building Committee as well as participating in numerous other educational, political and philanthropic organizations. Club Officers and Members Programme Starr Reece King, Mistr ess of Ceremonies President Sandra L. Frazier Vice President Linette P. Fox Response fivrn Recipients..............................................................................Anna M. Hood Second Vice President Gloria Y. Richards Geraldine X Powe Recording Secretary Peggie L. Reid Sarah M. Stevenson Financial Secretary Anna M. Hood+V* Treasurer Frances P. Hamlin Special Tributes, Director of Resources Doris E. Belk Director of Membership Jacquelyn P. Black Director of Communications Marie B. Butler Closing Remarks, Sandra Frazier Chaplain Starr R. King Parliamentarian Mae C. Orr Historian Lothell M. Ramseur Winnie N. Brailey Sarah M. Coleman Thereasea C. Elder+* Esther D. Elder Rosa L. Foust Theresa Dutch Gaston+ Tressie V. Goodson J. Belinda Grier Chinyere N. Harris Margaret D. Hunter Sabrina Kennedy Tonia C. Linder Cora M. Maxwell Teresa S. Mcllwain Juanita C. Miller Shirley M. Miller Irene Moore Chelsea A. Smith Madie M. Smith Patricia A. Smith Sarah M. Stevenson* Esther M. Sturgis* Dorothea E. Threatt Loris R. Vaughters Alfrika Williams V Founder +Charter Member *Life Member Programme Starr Reece King Mistr ess of Ceremonies Invocation.....................................................................................................................................Starr Reece Kin& Education & Enrichment Committee Members Lift Every Voice & Sing................................................................................(see program for lyrics) Esther Elder Welcome......................................................................................................................................... Starr Reece Kin& Thereasea Elder Greetings............................................................................................................................................. Wyllhn Bennett Linette R Fox Director of Public Relations & Marketing Museum of the New South Starr Reece King Cora M. Maxwell .............................................................................................Mary Klenz President Juanita Miller League of Women Voters Gloria Richards Presentation of Inductees....................................................................................... Anna M. Hood, Nominee Geraldine T. Powe, Nominee Sarah M. Stevenson, Nominee Induction Ceremony of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Womens Hall of Fame... ................................................................................... Sandra Frazier Presentation to the First Members of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Womens Hall of Fame.................................................................................................................................Sandra Frazier President Charlotte Club NA NBP W Inc. \ LIFT EVERY VOICE Lift every voice and sing Anna M. Hood ‘til earth and heaven ring, A woman described as a beacon of light, Anna Hood was the first